Boat



P. E. MERCIER ETAL BOAT 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Aug. 10, 1945 fii- 19, 1948. l P. E. MERCIER E-rAL 2,451,855

BOAT

Filed Aug. 10, 1945 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 %\r y ...l 'l I N A :mi ,In

v N "u Il INVENToRs Pierre Ernest Merc/e r Raymond V/'//ers-A//etand B @img/u Mwah@ the/r attorneys Patented Oct. 19, 1948 UNH-*ED ,STA-'FES PATENT'- oFFies i 1era-m15. New' Yank; N. Y.

to said VillersfAllexgand f lAppleatimvAugust- `10, 1945;I seifialjNo. 610.070

1f. Y @urrpre'sentinvention comprise'sa new boatvor hull construction particularly4 suitable-1 for.' usef in smalli pleasure craft whether' handrsail; or; motor propelled. l

object of the".I i'nventicinf is: to provide: a simplel and inexpensive; boaty that.: is.' buoyant, stableand seaworthy.'.`

Ai iurtherobjectof the'invention.. is to'prov'rde :a boat constructiunn utilizing.' few parts..

Still another object of the inventidrtvisatoriprovide-agbo'atlhaving4 a deformable. hull t'o absorb and minimize Athe` shocks incident thereuponl by the -action ofi the water.' l

Other objects of"` this inventionzwill beapparent as the:description,proceeds;4`

For an understanding. of the. invention'` reference, may be had' toV the: accompanying drawings o'f'which- Fig. 1 is a top plan view; partly broken away, of a boatconstructed according to the;v invention,

Fig. 2 is a vertical longitudinal sectionalfview taken on the line 22 of Fig. 1,

Fig. 3 is' a staggered vertical transverse sectional View takenon thek line 3-3 of Fig. 1, and iliig;I 411s a vertical transverse` sectional View of a boat representing another embodiment of the invention.

In .accordance with the invention, the new boat or hull construction comprises a pair of orthogonal: frames, one-the deck frame and the other the keel frame, .an outer inelasticilexible skin secured 8 Claims. (Cl. l: 9--1') to or surrounding the frames, and pneumatic means, comprising inflatable tubes or the like,` whichzwhen'inated are forced against the skin; the pneumatic means, together with thexframes causing the skin-to take a shape determined by the relative dimensions of the `frames,A the area ofI the` skin and the location of the engagement of 'the inflatable means therewith. It will be apparent from the" foregoing brief outline of the essential elements of thenew boat construction, that vthe invention may be embodied in various types-of boats.

In the embodiment of the invention illustrated in', Figs. 1: `to 3 lthe orth'ogona-lframes. comprise the deck frame 2 and keel frame 4. As shown best in Fig. 3, the deck frame 2 is formed from threexsheetelements.:2a,2b andxZc. Element 2a isJa `flat sheet' or strip of relatively narrow Width thef outer edgeof which defines the periphery of.

the" deck and the inner edge' of' Whichisriveted td thef elements 2b andlc. Elements Zbland 2c each comprise sheetsor strips havingtwo right angle.` bendsitlnerein to l provide vertical. f reinforcing .Wallin portions; andhorizontall outer; portions.

; sadMercier assignor 5 extendingfover and-.spacedY from-Hthe-element The element 2a; atl the forward end ofthe frame extends well beyondl the elements 2b-andt2cto form a bow deck section;Y Short tubular'elements 2d are securedvat intervalsialong thedeck frame for reception of strut partsof thefkeelmtrame, as hereinafter described. A: tubular reinforcing member Ze'for thefster-nf of theb'oat is yconnected between the rear pair ofi' elements 2d.- TheA inner peripheryof the deck frame' 2= denes-ianopeninyg Efwhich maybe covered by removable deck-:sem tions.

The sections-8may be-rot canvasdf Vdesiredgfin which case they arefsecurely` butwrernovablywfasi tened to the frame 2 by any suitable means. yFlor example snaipasteners indicated; diagrammatically atBa., c'ouldibenernployed. t

The keel.v frame wcomprises-V the longitudinal partV 4a connecting at the` stern with tubular struts 4b which: arel angularly; disposedi wither@ spect to thefpartl 4a: and.. terminating at-the-wbow inwan"V upwardlyextending partile-for attachment tovlthebowf'declc .sectionbff thel deckvvframe element 2a,\and a plurality" ofpairsvoff tubular strut members 4d secured tol the'lpart dwand lar elements 2d of theldeckrframe. K l

The number of-strutsld will depend,0f course; upon-fthe length. of.: the boat..` Ffortthettypefdf boatillustrated inFigs. 1 to `3, .four pairs of? struts 4d ,will` give sufficient rigidityI tothe completed boat. The struts 4d; asi-shownbestvin Fig. fane arcuate in shape with their concave'isides facing th'e sides `ofthe boat. Spaced longitudinallyalong the boat are. a plurality of pairsof'strap'sf" M of strongnon-elastic.` material; which aresecured at their endssto 'then part 4a of.' the. keel' frame and` the element 2a ofA the` deck frame. These straps" Il are each of azlengthabout!equaltothat of a strut `4d and,l together' with crossing straps I 4a, form a network fcirfforcingithev inflatable membersagainst the inextensible skini'oithe boat'. The inflatablemembers comprisetubes t6 off'mbh-` ber orthe likewhich `are disposedlongitudinally of the boat'externally ofthe strapsld; Mafand struts' 4d and internally of thefskin' |81.` Thefslrin |8,1 is `made of canvas f or theflike; suitablyv treated tovrenderit water=prnof andmade from asuf'- cient number of." pieces, sewn' orr "otherwise securedtogether, so as tohave the desiredlf hull contour when made'vtaut by the vpressure oifzsth'e tubesflz.

Preferably a reinforcing longitudinalA member Ia,V` adapted to fitC snugly' over thewkeel panttlzz; iszsecured, as byfrivetsytofthe innerfsunfaee-'soi the skin I8 along the longitudinal median line thereof to anchor the skin to the keel frame when the boat is assembled. A hem is provided around the periphery of the skin through which is threaded a draw string 22 of metal wire.

In assembling the above described parts of the boat, the two frames 2 and 4 are rst secured together as by insertion of the struts 4b and 4c into the tubular members 2d of ther deck frame and the bolting of the forward end 4a of the keel to the bow deck part of element 2a. The straps I4 are then secured at their ends to the keel part 4a `and the deck element 2a; these parts being provided with suitable holding means for the straps I4, as for example the longitudinal stringers indicated at I2.

The tubes I6, deflated, are laid within theskin I8, at opposite sides of the member 18a, the joined frames 2 and 4 are then inserted into the skinl with the keel part 4a within the longitudinal member I8a; The draw string 22 is then tightened in the hem ZIJ to pull'the hem and string into the channel I0 formed between the elements 201l and 2b of the deck frame.

The tubes I6 are then inated by usual means (not shown) to force the skin into the desired contour, the channe1 I0 anchoring the skin around its periphery. The skin at the bow of the boat as shown best in Fig. 2, extends over the forwardly extending part of element 2a. In order to insure that the skin will be taut and firmly anchored in the channel I0, a plate member 2li, which may be moved forwardly as by screw means 26, is provided in the channel ID at the bow of the boat. l

Thus after the parts are assembled, the wall portion 24 may be forced against the string to increase the tension thereof. Alternatively the hem 2U and string 22 could be omitted and the edge of the skin riveted and glued to the deck frame prior to inflation of the tubes I6.

In the embodiment of the invention illustrated in Figs. 1 to 3, two longitudinally disposed tubes I6 extending the length of the boat have been shown. Oviously more tubes could be employed if desired, or a single, closed, generally oval shaped tube could be employed if desired. Preferably several separate tubes areprovided to minimize the danger of deflation in the case of puncture.

In the embodimentof the invention above described, the boat will be substantially flat vbottomed, or somewhat reentrant along the keel 4a dependent upon the width of the skin I1 and degree of inflation of the tubes I6 relative to the vertical distance between deck and keel. The keel will be sufficiently heavy, either because of the material and dimensions thereof, or if neces sary by the addition of strategically placed weights, to cause a substantial part of the hull surface to be submerged, as indicated by the water lines in Figs. 2 and 3. The boat will .be seaworthy and extremely light and because of the exible skin thereof, combined with the inatable tubes I6 therein, will deform sufficiently when in use and subjected to the action of the waves to minimize shocks to the boat and its occupants.

In Fig. 4 is illustrated an embodiment of the invention in which the external contour of the hull has a double curvature. The boat of Fig. 4 differs from that of Figs. 1 to 3 in that suitably spaced centrally disposed vertical vstruts 28, connected to transverse strengthening members of the deck frame 2 are employed instead of the pairs of arcuate shaped struts 4d of the keel frame of Figs. 1 to 3 and inthat the straps 32,

corresponding to the straps I4, are secured at their lower ends to longitudinal stringers 34 carried by the skin I8. These straps 32 confine the tube I6 to the upper portions of the hull, causing the skin to curve outwardly wherein contact with the tubes and to curve inwardly under the tension of the straps on the stringers 34. The resulting hull contour of double curvature is one particularly suitable for racing craft as the hull will cut through the water with a minimum of resistance.

The invention has now been described with reference to two embodiments thereof. In neither )embodiment have we illustrated any propulsion means as obviously any suitable means, whether manual, sail or power driven could be employed and such means form no part of our invention. In each embodiment of this invention a flat deck only has been indicated. Obviously any suitable superstructure could be added if desired or openings in the deck could be provided for the occupants feet or for storage purposes. Also, the keel frame could be constructed, if desired,l to include suitable provision for the usual center board. As heretofore indicated our invention is concerned only with the novel hull structure heretofore described and defined in the appended claims and not with auxiliary details suitable only for a particular type of boat.

We claim:

l. A boat comprising a keel frame, a deck frame secured to said keel frame at spaced points, an inextensible flexible skin enclosing said frames and forming the louter walls of the boat, longitudina-lly disposed inflatable members below the deck frame and within the skin and inextensible exible members intermediate said inflatable members for forcing the same wheninated against the skin'member whereby the walls of the hull of the boat may have a predetermined contour. L ,j

2. The boat according to vclaim 1 wherein said last mentioned members comprise a plurality of longitudinally spaced straps, each` strapv being secured to the keel frame at one end and at the other end to the deck frame.

3. The boat according to claim 1 wherein said lastmentioned members comprise a plurality of longitudinally spaced straps, each strap being secured at one end to the deck frame and at the other end to the skin below an inflatable mem` ber whereby the hull will have a double curvature contour, said skin being reinforced longitudinally along the lines of attachment of the straps thereto.

4. The boat according to claim l` wherein said deck frame is provided with a substantially peripheral groove for reception of the upper edge of said skin, means including a draw string for anchoring said skin in said groove and a movable wall portion carried by the deck frame forv increasing the tension of said string in said groove.

5. A boat comprising a longitudinally disposed frame member forming a combined keel,v bow and stern, a horizontally disposed frame forming a deck member, spaced struts forming part of said keel member and secured to said deck frame, a network oi exible strap members connected be. tween the deck frame and the keel frame, an inextensible skinv member of flexible material enclosing said frames and forming the side walls of the boat and inatable members between said strap members and said skin member. i

6. A boat comprising a deck member, a keely member secured to said deck member soas'to extend substantially perpendicular thereto an inelastic skin of flexible material enclosing said members, inflatable members adjacent the inner walls of said skin for forcing said skin taut to form a hull for the boat, and a member secured to the inner surface of said skin along the longitudinal median line thereof for engaging the keel member and preventing relative movement between the skin and the keel.

7. A boat comprising a deck frame provided with a substantially peripheral groove, a keel irame secured to said deck frame, said keel frame including pairs of strut members secured to the deck frame at opposite sides thereof, a network of straps secured between said deck frame and said keel frame, a flexible inelastic skin fashioned to form, when taut, the hull of the boat, and having an opening for insertions of said frames therein, said skin being provided with a hem and draw string around the periphery of its opening, and inflatable members betweenl said network and said skin which when inflated are forced against said skin by said network, said draw string and hem entering and being anchored in said groove when said string is tight and said members are inflated.

8. The boat according to claim 7 including a movable element forming a portion of the Wall of said groove and means for forcing said element against said string to increase the tension thereof.

PIERRE ERNEST MERCIER. RAYMOND VILLERS-ALLERAND.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number OTHER REFERENCES Serial No. 283,290, Schutte (A. P. 0.), pub. Apr. 27, 1943. 

